The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Walkers come to grief on location
Rescue team issue warning after accidents
Movie lovers have been warned against wandering into mountain locations unprepared, after rescuers were called out twice in a week.
Walkers have come to grief after being inspired to visit a rugged film location on a Scottish island by movies such as Guy Ritchie’s new King Arthur, and the latest Transformers.
A warning has been issued to movie-loving hikers after a walker was stretchered off a Skye mountain made famous by several films.
It was the second such incident in a week on the island.
The head of the mountain rescue team said more people were now flocking to iconic features like the Storr after seeing films such as Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel Prometheus, or even Harry Styles’ video.
But many hikers underestimate the terrain, and wear poor footwear which could prove lethal.
An Australian tourist in her 60s fell and injured her leg at the Storr on Friday.
Members of Skye Mountain Rescue Team carried her off on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.
She was taken to the Dr MacKinnon Memorial Hospital at Broadford on the island. Her condition is unknown.
“Her knee had swollen up like a balloon, but it could have been worse,” said Gerry Ackroyd, leader of Skye MRT.
“We have noticed more and more people being attracted to walking up to the Storr or the Quiraing after seeing them in films.
“But many people just don’t have the right footwear or equipment. Off the main path especially it can get very steep and slippery and one slip and you can end up with very serious injuries. People need to have the right gear and be prepared.”
Just seven days earlier another woman was airlifted to hospital after falling at one of the Skye locations of the new movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
The Stornoway Coastguard search and rescue helicopter was sent to the Quiraing area to aid the walker. She was taken to the Western Isles Hospital in Stornoway.
As well as Guy Ritchie’s new King Arthur movie, scenes for the latest Transformers movie were shot at the Quiraing.
The island has provided the backdrop for a number of film and TV productions – most recently the Disney adaptation of Roald Dahl’s BFG, which was directed by Steven Spielberg.
Scenes for Macbeth, which stars Michael Fassbender, were shot in Skye’s Trotternish district, which is where the Storr and the Quiraing are located. And VisitScotland estimates that 40% of visitors to the UK are inspired to come after seeing a location on film or TV.